Catalytic enantioselective aryl transfer: asymmetric addition of boronic acids to aldehydes using pyrrolidinylmethanols as ligands

Pyrrolidinylmethanols, easily accessible from readily available (S)-proline, were applied in zinc-catalyzed addition of arylboronic acids to aromatic aldehydes; the reaction is found to proceed in excellent yields and high enantioselectivities (up to 98% ee).